I started by buying up a bunch of old fabrics cheap at a Salvation Army Store. Think the whole box cost me $5. Then I started with the largest prints, and worked on quilting around those. As I improved, I worked my way slowly down to outlining the smallest prints. There were hearts to practice on, and plaids where I could do geometric work, solids for "fill in quilting", and vines to follow and outline. I ended up buying more cheap, used fabric and continued on. It saved me! Prior to that, I couldn't FMQ for the life of me, and I was getting frustrated with the tutorials, etc. I had to practice, practice, practice moving that material around, really getting the feel of it. Eventually I graduated to "sandwiched" pieces, and then to quilts. Yes, it was a long process, but it was what I needed to do for me to learn. It was even harder because I have peripheral neuropathy in my hands (numbness and tingling) and the fabric had a different feel to me than it might for other people. But now, I am praised for my quilting abilities.

I also very, very much like Leah Day's suggestion of putting a serpentine line of quilting on a quilt, and then meadering back and forth over it. I just love her!

Thank you for Sharing!

Thank you so much. I'll bet Leah could have kicked herself for not thinking of this! I am a new meanderer and had the same trouble you did before your brainstorm. For months, I have done lots of research and reading regarding free motion quilting. No where have I seen this brilliant idea, not even from the best of the best quilters, so I kiss the ground you walk on! Endless possibilities, I'd say. Thank you AGAIN for requesting this be a tutorial and hats off to our fabulous moderator. What a wonderful site we have here. Quiltingboard.com is the best!

Whoo Hoooo!!!! Maybe this will be something that will take the fear out of learning to stipple and meander for me. thanks so much for posting this I think you made a lot of us quilters happy this morning.
Pat